Air conditioning apparatus for automotive vehicles

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning apparatus for an automotive vehicle including an air distribution duct assembly incorporating a pair of relatively slidably movable elongated ducts for distributing air to selected locations in the vehicle and utilizing a single lever to selectively open and close air discharge openings in the duct assembly.

0 United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,752,223 Finch 1 Aug. 14,1973

[54] AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR 2,864,590 12/1958 Moore 165/43AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES 3,223,019 12/1965 Schuh 98/41 SV 3.415.311 12/1968Sheppard et a1 165/33 [75] Inventor: Kenneth W. Flnch, Fort Wayne, ind.1 Assisnee= International Harvester Company, Primary Examiner-Charles J.Myhre Chicago, Assistant Examiner--Theophil W. Streule, Jr. 22 Filed:Ju'y 31 1972 Attorney-Floyd B. Harman [21] Appl. No 276,504

[57] ABSTRACT 'i 165/ b An air conditioning apparatus for an automotivevehi- 58] Fieid 165/16 cle including an air distribution duct assemblyincorpo- 27 33 42 rating a pair of relatively slidably movable elongatedducts for distributing air to selected locations in the vehicle andutilizing a single lever to selectively open and [56] UN TE S r S ENTsclose air discharge openings in the duct assembly. 2,796,820 6/1957Moore et a1. ..l 165/43 8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14,1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 DEL/VERY Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,223

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 14, 1973 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 AIRCONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES This invention relates toan air conditioning system for automotive vehicles and more particularlyto a novel air distribution means associated with the apparatus.

Air distribution systems for automotive vehicles are plagued with anumber of problems including a necessity for a plurality of dampers andbowden wire control arrangements with their inherent difficulties.Accordingly, it has become desirable to provide in a vehicle airconditioning system more simplified apparatus which is not burdened by aplurality of moving parts and which is easy to manufacture and install.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of this invention toprovide an air conditioning system for an automotive vehicle having anovel air distribution apparatus.

Another object is to provide a simple air distribution duct assemblycontaining a plurality of air outlets which may be selectively openedand closed to send conditioned air to desired locations within thevehicle.

Briefly summarized, the invention herein comprises an air distributionduct assembly which has two elongated ducts, one being disposed withinthe other and slidably positionable with respect to the other toselectively position air discharge openings which in turn are connectedto air discharge means in various areas of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view in perspective ofa portion of an air conditioning system embodying the invention herein;

FIG. 2a is a view in perspective of the stationary outer airdistribution duct;

FIG. 2b is a view in perspective of a second inner air distribution ductslidable within the outer duct shown in FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the selector mechanism takenalong line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the connecting means interconnecting theselector mechanism with the inner duct of FIG. 2b;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are top views showing the relative positions of theinner and outer ducts for the different operating modes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The term air conditioningapparatus is used herein in its broadest sense to mean conditioning ofair, i.e., to include both'heating and cooling.

The air conditioning apparatus 10 embodying the invention herein isshown in an exploded perspective in FIG. 1. It includes an airconditioning unit 11, an -air distribution duct assembly 12, and aselector mechanism 13. The air conditioning apparatus 10 would normallybe positioned in the passenger compartment of the vehicle which isseparated from the engine compartment by a partition wall 13 sometimesreferred to as a dash panel. The air conditioning unit 11 is adapted toreceive atmospheric air through an inlet 15, to which is connected aninlet conduit (not shown) which in turn communicates with the atmosphereoutside the vehicle. The unit 11 is provided with hot water inlet andoutlet conduits l6 and 17 connected by a suitable arrangement with theradiator of the vehicle so that hot water may be circulated from theradiator (not shown) to a heating core (not shown) within the unit 11and back again. The unit 11 also may contain a cooling core (not shown)with which inlet and outlet conduits l8 and 19 are connected and lead toa refrigerant source (not shown).

The air distribution assembly 12 includes an elongated outer duct 20 andan elongated inner duct 21 which is slidably disposed within duct 20 toslide along the longitudinal axis of the two ducts. These two ducts maybe of plastic or sheet metal construction. Outer duct 20 comprises anelongated structure preferably of rectangular cross-section includingtop wall 22, bottom wall 23, side walls 24 and 25 and end wall 26 whichcloses duct 20 at its right end. The opposite end of duct 20 is open toprovide a discharge opening 29 for heated air. It may be fitted with avane control (not shown) for selectively closing that end if desired. Apair of air inlet apertures 27 and 28 are formed in bottom wall 23 towhich are connected respectively cold air delivery conduit 30 and warmair delivery conduit 31 which are connected to unit 11 to deliver airfrom the latter to the duct arrangement 12. The unit 11 may belocated'in closer proximity to wall 23 of outer duct 20 or by relativelyshort coupling conduits extending between the unit 11 and apertures 27and 28 in the bottom wall 23.

A pair of longitudinally spaced air apertures 32 and 33 are formed inthe right end of the top wall 22 and are adapted to be connected bysuitable conduits (not shown) to window defrost stations in the vehiclecompartment. Additional air outlet apertures 34 and 35 are formed in topwall 22. The left end of duct 20 provides an exit for heated air and isprovided with a variable opening (not shown) which may be controlled bya hand operated vane mechanism (not shown).

A box-like cold air manifold 36 is attached to the top wall 22 and ispositioned over the openings 34 and 35 in communication with thoseopenings. The cold air manifold 36 may be provided with several airdischarge openings 37 each of which are adapted to be connected toconduits (not shown) leading to different sections of the vehiclecompartment.

The inner duct 21 of the air distribution assembly is an elongatedstructure which is closely fitted inside duct 20 with enough clearanceto provide easy slidability therein. Duct 21 includes a top wall 40,bottom wall 41 and side walls 42 and 43 which may be formed in a manneras shown in FIG. 4. Air outlet apertures 44, 45, 46 and 47 are formed intop wall 40. Bottom wall 41 is formed with a cut-out portion 41a whichextends about half the length of duct 21, the length of the cutoutportion depending on the position of theair outlet apertures. Apertures44 and 45 preferably are smaller than apertures 46 and 47 because theyare intended as discharge openings to window defrost stations as furthershown herein. Apertures 44 and 45 are of substantially the same size asapertures 32 and 33 respectively of duct 20 (See FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 7)and are longitudinally spaced the same distance as apertures 32 and 33,so that they may be moved simultaneously into register therewith.Apertures 46 and 47 are of substantially the same size as apertures 34and 35 respectively of duct 20 and are longitudinally spaced the samedistance as apertures 34 and 35 so that they may be moved simultaneouslyinto register therewith as may be seen from FIG. 8.

The selector mechanism 13 comprises an elongated lever arm 50 which ispivotally mounted at 51 on a bracket 52 attached to the partition wall14. A guide bolt or pin 53 is fitted into an aperture 54 of side wall 42of duct 21 and extends through a horizontally extending slot 55 in sidewall 25 of outer duct 20. The guide bolt or pin 53 also extends throughvertically extending slot 56 in lever arm 50. Two guide flanges 57 and58 serve to hold the guide bolt 53 in place in the lever arm 50 and sidewall 42. The slot 56 is of sufficient width to permit the guide bolt tomove through out the length thereof as the lever arm 50 is rotated aboutits pivot 51. A linkage arm 60 is attached to the lower end of the leverarm 50 and an actuating lever 61 is attached to the other end of linkagearem 60. A suitable pivotal mounting for the lever 61 is provided inconjunction with an indicator panel 62. Pivotal actuation of the lever61 in a horizontal plane (as seen in FIG. 1) will actuate the lever arm50 to any one of three selected positions as shown in FIG. 3.

The air conditioning apparatus can be set to provide either heating,cooling or defrosting. If either defrosting or heating are desiredsuitable controls (not shown) are manipulated to permit circulation ofhot water via conduit 16 to the heating core in unit 11. To set theapparatus in a defrosting mode the lever arm 50 is moved to its centerposition D by the selector lever 61 (as shown in FIG. 3). By thisaction, the lever arm 50 moves the inner duct 21, to which pin 53 isattached, to the position shown in FIG. 6. In that position apertures 44and 45 of inner duct 21 are in register with apertures 32 and 33respectively of outer duct 20, the apertures 32 and 33 being connectedto window defrosting stations in the vehicle compartment. It will beobserved that in this defrost position the passage of heated air fromthe unit 1 1 through conduit 31 to distribution duct assembly 13 is notobstructed. Heated air enters the distribution duct assembly 13 throughaperture 28, moves through cut-out portion or open area 41a in thebottom wall 41 and thence through apertures 44, 45 and 32, 33.

If the heating mode is desired, lever 61 is manipulated to pivot leverarm 50 to the right to position E as shown in FIG. 3. This moves innerduct 21 to a position as shown in FIG. 7. In that position the defrostapertures 44, 45 and 32, 33 are no longer in register with each other.All apertures in the top wall of outer duct are blocked. The heated airmoves to the only open outlet 29 at the left end of the assembly 13which may be connected to various heating stations throughout thevehicle compartment.

If the cooling mode is desired controls (not shown) are manipulated tocirculate refrigerant to the cooling core in unit 11. Then lever 61 ismanipulated to pivot lever 50 to the left to position F as shown in FIG.8. In that position the defrost apertures 32 and 33 are closed. The aircooling system in unit 1 1 which now has been put into operationdelivers cold air via conduit 30 into inner duct 21 and throughapertures 46, 47 and 34, 35 which are now in register with each other asshown in FIG. 8. Apertures 46 and 47, of course, are in directcommunication with manifold 36 from-which cold air is distributedthrough openings 37 to various stations in the vehicle compartment.

It will be seen that I have advantageously provided in vehicle airconditioning apparatus a simplified air distribution duct assembly whichis of simple construction, has few moving parts and is easy tomanipulate in selecting a variety of air conditioning modes.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specificallydisclosed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto as other variations will be apparent to those skilled in the artand the invention is to be given its fullest interpretation within theterms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Air conditioning apparatus for an automotive vehicle comprising:

an air conditioning unit;

means for admitting air to said air conditioning unit;

means associated with said air conditioning unit for conditioning airadmitted to said air conditioning unit;

air distribution means operatively connected to said air conditioningunit for receiving air therefrom and distributing the conditioned air,said air distribution means including, a first elongated outer ductmember, a second elongated inner duct member slidably disposed withinsaid first elongated duct member;

air discharge opening means in said air distribution means includingmeans defining openings in each of said duct members which may be movedinto register with each other to distribute conditioned air to selectedlocations;

duct actuating means for moving one duct member longitudinally relativeto the other; and

selector means connected to said duct actuating means for actuating thelatter.

2. The combination of claim 1 including means connecting said ductactuating means to said inner duct member whereby the latter may beslidably moved longitudinally with respect to said outer duct means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said air conditioning unitincludes both a heating core and cooling core and separate conduit meansfrom each leading to said air distribution means.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outer duct member includes atleast one air discharge opening adapted to be connected to a defrostingstation, at least one air discharge opening adapted to be connected to aheating station, and at least one cold air discharge opening adapted tobe connected to an air cooling station.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a cold air manifold operativelyconnected to said cold air discharge opening formed in said outer ductmember, said cold air manifold being adapted to distribute cold air to aplurality of stations in the vehicle compartment with which said airconditioning apparatus is associated.

6. The combinationof claim 1 wherein said outer and inner duct memberseach have formed in adjacent walls thereof at least one warm airdischarge opening adapted to be brought into register with each other byactuation of said selector means to distribute warm air to at least oneselected stawalls of outer'and inner duct member and adapted to bebrought into register with each other by actuation of said selectormechanism.

8. The combination of claim 7 including additional warm air dischargeoutlet formed in one end of each of said inner and outer duct members.

1. Air conditioning apparatus for an automotive vehicle comprising: anair conditioning unit; means for admitting air to said air conditioningunit; means associated with said air conditioning unit for conditioningair admitted to said air conditioning unit; air distribution meansoperatively connected to said air conditioning unit for receiving airtherefrom and distributing the conditioned air, said air distributionmeaNs including, a first elongated outer duct member, a second elongatedinner duct member slidably disposed within said first elongated ductmember; air discharge opening means in said air distribution meansincluding means defining openings in each of said duct members which maybe moved into register with each other to distribute conditioned air toselected locations; duct actuating means for moving one duct memberlongitudinally relative to the other; and selector means connected tosaid duct actuating means for actuating the latter.
 2. The combinationof claim 1 including means connecting said duct actuating means to saidinner duct member whereby the latter may be slidably movedlongitudinally with respect to said outer duct means.
 3. The combinationof claim 1 wherein said air conditioning unit includes both a heatingcore and cooling core and separate conduit means from each leading tosaid air distribution means.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidouter duct member includes at least one air discharge opening adapted tobe connected to a defrosting station, at least one air discharge openingadapted to be connected to a heating station, and at least one cold airdischarge opening adapted to be connected to an air cooling station. 5.The combination of claim 4 including a cold air manifold operativelyconnected to said cold air discharge opening formed in said outer ductmember, said cold air manifold being adapted to distribute cold air to aplurality of stations in the vehicle compartment with which said airconditioning apparatus is associated.
 6. The combination of claim 1wherein said outer and inner duct members each have formed in adjacentwalls thereof at least one warm air discharge opening adapted to bebrought into register with each other by actuation of said selectormeans to distribute warm air to at least one selected station.
 7. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said opening means include warm airdischarge opening means formed in adjacent walls of said outer and innerduct members and adapted to be brought into register with each other byactuation of said selector mechanism; cold air discharge opening meansformed in adjacent walls of outer and inner duct member and adapted tobe brought into register with each other by actuation of said selectormechanism.
 8. The combination of claim 7 including additional warm airdischarge outlet formed in one end of each of said inner and outer ductmembers.